NORTHERN LAKES NATURAL REGION

COUNTIES LOCATED WITHIN REGION:                                                                      -Kosciusko, DeKalb , Elkhart, Allen, Steuben, Noble, St. Joseph (portion), Wabash (portion), LaGrange, and Cass  

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:                                                                                                              The Northern Lakes Natural Region belongs to the St. Joseph’s River watershed.  Many lakes are formed in this division along with swamps, bogs, and marshes.  Also typical to this division are sand and gravely knolls.  Originally, more of the habitat was tree and shrub dominated swamps, but today they have been altered to wet prairies and marshes.  The major tree types are equally divided between tracts of oak and hickory trees and beech and maples trees.

  PROTECTED AREAS:

-Chain O’ Lakes State Park

Located in Noble County, 30 miles northwest of Fort Wayne, the park covers 2,678 acres.  Within the park there are 11 lakes, collectively called the Kettle Lakes, 8 of which are connected by a watercourse.  The park also has 11 miles of hiking trails and is one of Indiana’s cross-country skiing destinations.  Activities available in the park include swimming, boating, picnicking, fishing, camping, canoeing, hiking, and a Nature Center. 

-Potato Creek State Park

Located slightly southwest of South Bend, this park is very young.  It contains wetland areas that are home to ducks, geese, swans, herons, and loons, along with the Swamp Rose nature preserve that protects some unusual bog-type plants.  Also, since the summer of 1994, 20 acres of prairie grasses, flowers, and legumes have been planted.  The park offers activities such as cross-country skiing, fishing, kayaking, camping, and boating.